After reviewing the cases of 21 priests accused over thepast several decades of sexual abuse, the Queens districtattorney said yesterday that all the events appeared tohave occurred too long ago to allow criminal prosecution.

The district attorney, Richard A. Brown, said that althoughthe cases in his borough appeared to be too old toprosecute under the statute of limitations, he wouldcontinue to investigate those cases as well as other leadson possible sexual abuse by priests.

The 21 cases Mr. Brown referred to were turned over to hisoffice recently by the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includesparishes in Queens. A law enforcement official said thatthe most recent accusation of abuse in that batch involvedincidents reported to have happened in October 1995.

The statute of limitations on criminal charges of sexualabuse of a minor is five years for a felony and two yearsfor a misdemeanor, but in some cases the time limit doesnot start to run until after the victim turns 18, officialssaid.

In an interview, Mr. Brown said that most of the cases hisoffice reviewed were decades old, dating from as far backas the 1960's, and that the drop-off in reported casesconcerned him.

"I have difficulty in my own mind in believing that thecurtain has suddenly dropped, that clerical sexual abusesuddenly stopped 5 or 10 years ago," he said.

However, asked if he thought the diocese was withholdinginformation on more recent cases, he said, "I'm notsuggesting that."

Along with his findings, Mr. Brown released a letter to thebishop of Brooklyn, Thomas V. Daily, urging him toencourage parents and children with knowledge of morerecent cases of sex abuse to come forward.

"I very much fear that there may exist youngsters who haverecently been - or who are currently being - sexuallyabused, but who, paralyzed by inaction, confusion or fear,are reluctant to seek help," Mr. Brown wrote.

Frank DeRosa, a spokesman for Bishop Daily, said that thebishop felt Mr. Brown's letter included "good suggestions"and that "the diocese will cooperate and will reach out toparents in the parishes."

After initially resisting, the Diocese of Brooklyn thismonth forwarded the names and files of about 42 accusedpriests, including several whom the diocese suspendedrecently as the scandal grew, to prosecutors in Queens andBrooklyn. The Brooklyn prosecutors, as well as authoritiesin Manhattan, the Bronx and Westchester - who are reviewingcases sent to them by the archdiocese of New York - saidthey were still reviewing the reports.

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